‘Reming’ changes course, won’t hit Metro Manila
INQ7.net
Last updated 03:57pm (Mla time) 11/30/2006
Reming's Track
Last updated 03:57pm (Mla time) 11/30/2006
Reming's Track
(9TH UPDATE) SUPER typhoon "Reming" (international codename: Durian) has changed course and will no longer hit Metro Manila directly, the chief state weather forecaster said Friday.
Instead, the storm, with winds of 190 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 225 kilometers per hour, will hit provinces south of the capital, according to Nathaniel Cruz in a phone interview.
"There was a big change in direction. Metro Manila will no longer be a direct hit," Cruz said.
The change in its course was caused was by an intensified high pressure area over the South China Sea, he said.
But Cruz said Metro Manila residents should still brace for heavy rains and strong winds. "Metro Manila is still in peril. We should not relax," he said in a news conference aired live on GMA Network radio dzBB.
“Reming” was supposed to have to hit Metro Manila between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Friday, prompting officials to suspend classes this Thursday.
The Manila airport authority was also considering diverting all incoming flights to Hong Kong, radio reports said.
In the same news conference, Cruz said “Reming” was expected to strengthen when it makes landfall in Batangas, Mindoro and Marinduque, and Panay Gulf after passing through the Ragay Gulf.
"This means the storm could remain as strong or grow stronger," Cruz said.
Public Storm signal number 4 has been raised in Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines provinces, southern Quezon, Marinduque, and Burias Island; signal number 3 in Sorsogon, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, including Polillo Island.
Signal number 2 has been raised in Metro Manila, Aurora, Masbate, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bataan, Bulacan, and Northern Samar. Signal number 1 was raised in Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Isabela, the rest of Samar, Calamian group of islands, Biliran, Aklan, and Capiz.
The howler made landfall in Catanduanes province in the Bicol region on Thursday morning, stranding thousands of passengers and downing power lines. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
At least 166 families have been evacuated -- 140 in Legazpi City, Albay province, 23 in Virac, Catanduanes, and three in Libmanan, Camarines
Sur, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.
An undetermined number of evacuees in the Catanduanes provincial capital of Virac are staying in their relatives' houses, it said.
Residents said the winds were so strong it felt like an earthquake, according to a report radio dzBB earlier in the day.
Quoting reports from the National Transmission Corp. (Transco), the NDCC said electricity was cut off in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and parts of Quezon province.
Land and sea travel have been suspended in areas of the Bicol region affected by the storm, Cruz said.
The NDCC said 3,349 people and 167 vehicles have been stranded in seaports in the Bicol region and Southern Luzon. In the Matnog port in Sorsogon alone, 1,444 were stranded while 1,000 were stranded in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
The NDCC said flood advisories have been sent out in the Bicol region and in the Samar and Leyte provinces in the eastern Visayas, which could be hit by rains.
Coast guard commandant Rear Admiral Damian Carlos placed all units on the highest alert.
The “super typhoon” is the fourth to hit the Philippines in as many months.
In late September, Typhoon Xangsane (Philippine codename: Milenyo) left 230 people dead and missing in and around Manila. Typhoon Cimaron (Philippine codename: Paeng) killed 19 people and injured 58 others last month, and earlier this month, Chebi (Philippine codename: Queenie) sliced through the central Luzon region, killing one.
About 20 typhoons and tropical storms hit the Philippines each year.
Instead, the storm, with winds of 190 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 225 kilometers per hour, will hit provinces south of the capital, according to Nathaniel Cruz in a phone interview.
"There was a big change in direction. Metro Manila will no longer be a direct hit," Cruz said.
The change in its course was caused was by an intensified high pressure area over the South China Sea, he said.
But Cruz said Metro Manila residents should still brace for heavy rains and strong winds. "Metro Manila is still in peril. We should not relax," he said in a news conference aired live on GMA Network radio dzBB.
“Reming” was supposed to have to hit Metro Manila between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Friday, prompting officials to suspend classes this Thursday.
The Manila airport authority was also considering diverting all incoming flights to Hong Kong, radio reports said.
In the same news conference, Cruz said “Reming” was expected to strengthen when it makes landfall in Batangas, Mindoro and Marinduque, and Panay Gulf after passing through the Ragay Gulf.
"This means the storm could remain as strong or grow stronger," Cruz said.
Public Storm signal number 4 has been raised in Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines provinces, southern Quezon, Marinduque, and Burias Island; signal number 3 in Sorsogon, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, including Polillo Island.
Signal number 2 has been raised in Metro Manila, Aurora, Masbate, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bataan, Bulacan, and Northern Samar. Signal number 1 was raised in Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Isabela, the rest of Samar, Calamian group of islands, Biliran, Aklan, and Capiz.
The howler made landfall in Catanduanes province in the Bicol region on Thursday morning, stranding thousands of passengers and downing power lines. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
At least 166 families have been evacuated -- 140 in Legazpi City, Albay province, 23 in Virac, Catanduanes, and three in Libmanan, Camarines
Sur, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.
An undetermined number of evacuees in the Catanduanes provincial capital of Virac are staying in their relatives' houses, it said.
Residents said the winds were so strong it felt like an earthquake, according to a report radio dzBB earlier in the day.
Quoting reports from the National Transmission Corp. (Transco), the NDCC said electricity was cut off in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and parts of Quezon province.
Land and sea travel have been suspended in areas of the Bicol region affected by the storm, Cruz said.
The NDCC said 3,349 people and 167 vehicles have been stranded in seaports in the Bicol region and Southern Luzon. In the Matnog port in Sorsogon alone, 1,444 were stranded while 1,000 were stranded in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
The NDCC said flood advisories have been sent out in the Bicol region and in the Samar and Leyte provinces in the eastern Visayas, which could be hit by rains.
Coast guard commandant Rear Admiral Damian Carlos placed all units on the highest alert.
The “super typhoon” is the fourth to hit the Philippines in as many months.
In late September, Typhoon Xangsane (Philippine codename: Milenyo) left 230 people dead and missing in and around Manila. Typhoon Cimaron (Philippine codename: Paeng) killed 19 people and injured 58 others last month, and earlier this month, Chebi (Philippine codename: Queenie) sliced through the central Luzon region, killing one.
About 20 typhoons and tropical storms hit the Philippines each year.
posted by NikNok at 4:38 PM
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